About RH Brown

The former veteran radio announcer and veteran Vietnam Era Army Medic is also an author. His autobiographical book, Call Me Gullah: An American Heritage is available via amazon.com in paperback and kindle.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)-Some high school students from around the region visited the Palmeiro Center on the MSU campus for Cal Ripken Day. It’s a special day for those high school students gathered at MSU Monday. First, they received an official greeting from MSU president Dr. Mark Keenum. Then Cal Ripken Foundation representatives happily introduced the youngsters to the Badges For Baseball program. It’s taught around the country in settings like the one at MSU.

“So we like to teach them leadership and personal responsibility and choosing the right teammates and with those they make the right decisions to be successful and reach higher education areas like Mississippi State University,” said Flynn Burch, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

Current Diamond Dog outfielder Hunter Renfroe has spent several successful seasons in Ripken’s Summer League. He thinks young people could learn a lot about life from the Baltimore Oriole Iron Man. Success starts with hard work.

“He grinded out all his ball games like that for 17 years. Thats unheard of I mean you know to have an injury here or there its so easy to get injuries and you know miss a game like that,” said Hunter Renfroe, MSU Baseball Player.

At places like MSU, positive role models speak about having fun, while never forgetting the importance of education.

“I learned that you can be anything you want to be if you set your goal and met it,” said Elena Bolanos, Byrum Middle School.

“Keep going, keep pushing. Keep grinding out school. I mean athletics is something that comes second to school. Without education I mean, you are nowhere,” adds Burch.

Iron Man Cal Ripken played his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles and holds the longest streak for not missing a game.